Port Blair, Apr 04: Communist Party of India (Marxist), Andaman and Nicobar State Organizing Committee vehemently condemn the recent steep hike in the electricity tariff of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The hike has come as a rude shock to the residents of this backward territory at a time when the people are bearing the brunt of the sky-rocketing prices of food items and overall increase in prices due to the wrong policies of the central government. The CPI (M) State Committee noted that the Congress (I)-led UPA government has been putting burden one after other on the people of these Islands in the form of electricity tariff increase, ship/boat fare increase, Jarawa Buffer Zone, etc.
”The Andaman and Nicobar Administration headed by the Lt. Governor and the Cong (I)-led UPA government have been taking decisions which always go against the interests of the Islanders, particularly those belonging to the lower strata. The steep increase in the fare for vehicle ferry services between Chatham and Bambooflat has sent shock waves among the people living in the rural South Andaman areas. For carrying a four wheeler in the vehicle ferry, the fare has been increased from Rs. 90 to Rs. 160 for one side. Thousands of people commuting between Port Blair and Bambooflat find it difficult to shell out such huge amount for ferrying their vehicles. The CPI (M) notes that such anti- people decisions are taken by the Lt. Governor and Administration without consulting with people’s representatives or major Political parties in the Islands,” a release from CPI (M) said here today.
The release further added that “CPI condemns the drama being enacted by the ruling Cong (I) on the issue of increase of the vehicle ferry fare. Letters purported to have been sent to the Lt Governor by the ruling party leader in the Islands is nothing but an eye wash as the actions of the Lt. Governor and Administration are always supported by the Congress (I) party leaders and in turn these leaders are being helped by the Lt Governor and the Administration. Hence the Cong (I) leader has no moral ground to oppose the decision of the Lt. Governor and the Administration Since the power tariff hike and boat/ship fare hike, particularly, the hike in the fare of vehicle ferry services, have created widespread discontentment, CPI (M) demands that the Lt. Governor should review the above decisions. CPI (M) calls upon the Islanders to oppose the above decisions of the A & N Administration and Cong (I)-led UPA government. A communication from Secretary.”
